Reel-holding device.



H. W. SCHMIDT.

REEL HOLDING DEVICE.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. 20. |914.

1,1 5,566. Patented Nov. 2, 1915.

inmirnn sra rarnnr onirica.

HENRY W. SCHMIDT, OF KENOSHA, WISCONSIN.

REEL-HOLDING DEVICE.

To all whom t may concern.'

Be it known that I, HENRY W; SCHMIDT, a citizen of the United States, residing at Kenosha, in the county of Kenosha and State of l/Visconsin, have invented new and useful Improvements in Reel-Holding Devices, of which the following is a specification. l

This invention relates to clothes line reels and has particular reference to a device wherein the line may be readily and easily wound upon and unwound from aV reel mounted for rotation within a casing whereby the line when not in use is protected from inclement weather.

The invention has for one of its objects the provision of alocking element of novelconstruction which permits rotation of the reel in one direction for winding the line thereon, but which locks the reel against rotation in an opposite direction and thus prevents the unwinding of the line therefrom.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a device of the above mentioned character provided with means for retaining the locking element in inoperative position during the unwinding of the line from the reel.

To these ends theinvention essentially consists in the provision of an angular shaped rod journaled in one side wall of the casing for rocking movement into and out of engagement with one end of the reel, and a spring operating to hold said rod in inoperative position.

Other objects will appear as the nature of the invention is better'understood from the following description considered in connection with the accompanying drawing wherein like numerals of reference indicate similar parts in the several views, and in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of the casing with the door open and showing the reel mounted therein. Fig. 2 is a sectional view taken on line a-a of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is an end view, the casing being partly broken away and showing the locking element in operative position and inoperative position on the dotted lines.

Referring more particularly to the drawing 5 indicates a casing constructed from any suitable material and of any contour suitable for the purpose. In this embodiment of the invention I have shown a cas- Specification of Letters Iatent. 1 Pa11t@d.N0V 2" 1915 .Application filed February 20, 1914.

Serial No.` 820,006.

ing of rectangular form comprising a top, bottom, front, rear and side walls. The front wall is hingedly secured to the underside of the bottom as at 6 and serves in the capacity of a downwardly swinging door 7 for controlling access to the casing. The door terminates a sufficient distance below the top of the casing to permit the line 8 to pass freely therebetween, the door being held in closed position by means of a suitable latch 9.

Arranged within the casing and journaled between the opposite side walls 10- and 11 thereof is a shaft 12 which has fixed thereon a reel 13 of the ordinary and well known construction whereon the line 8 is wound when not in use. Une end of the shaft12 terminates to provide a handle 14 for rotating the reel.V It is to be understood however that the reel may be spring or otherwise automatically operated.

Mounted between the side walls 10 and 11 below and slightly in advance of the reel 13 is a second shaft 15 on which the guide pulley 16 is both rotatably and slidably mounted, and over which the line travels during the winding and unwinding operation and guided by said pulley so as to properly wind itself about the reel.

One end of the reel is spaced a slight distance from the side wall 10, and from said end projects a plurality of spaced laterally disposed pins 17 adapted to coperate with the locking element B in a manner and for the purpose presently described.

With a view of permitting the reel to be rotated in one direction for winding the line thereon, but at the same time locking the reel against retrograde movement to prevent unwinding of the line therefrom I employ an angular shaped locking element mounted for rocking movement in the side wall 10 and having a portion normally disposed in the path of movement of the pins 17 as shown. The locking element as shown comprises a substantially L-shaped rod having a manipulating portion 20 extended at right angles from the portion 19 thereof,

rocking movement which permits rotation of the reel in one direction. It might be here stated that the rear wall of the casing is extended to provide attaching lugs 21 for supporting the casing on a post or other suitable support, one of thelugs serving in the capacity of a stop to limit the movement of the locking element in one direction. Obviously as each pin passes the portion 18, the locking element gravitates to its normal position and as it is held against movement in an opposite direction by means of the lugs 21 unwinding of the line from the reel is positively prevented. However when it is desired to unwind the line from the reel the manipulating portion 20 of the locking element is moved to vertical position, as in dicated by dotted lines in Fig. 3, thuslifting the actuating portion 18 rearwardly to an inoperative position and out of the path of movement of the pins 17, thus freeing the reel toV rotate in either direction.

In order to retain the locking element in inoperative position I employ a leaf spring 22 secured at one end in any suitable manner to the side edge of the top of the casing. The body portion of the springl is bowed outwardly in the path of movement of the manipulating portion 20 and operates to eX- ert a pressure thereagainst when the latter is in vertical position to hold the locking element against movement to an operative n position.

'Ihe line 8 at one end is secured to the reel in any'suitable manner such as for instance looping one end ofthe line and securing the same over a hook 23 attached to the reel adjacent one end thereof, it of course being understood that the free end of the line is adapted to be securedin any suitable manner to a support at a distance from the casing.V

Fromrthe foregoing description taken in connection with the accompanying drawing it is believed that the nature and advantages of the invention will be thoroughly clear without further explanation and therefore the same has been omitted. However I desire to have it understood that I am not to be limited to the precise construction and arrangement of parts herein shown and described as various changes may be made within the scope of the appended claim without departing from the spirit or sacriicing any of the advantages of the invention.

Vhat I claim is:-

The combination with a support having a projection, a rotatable member, and a series of spaced pins projecting from the end of said member, of a substantially L-shaped locking element journaled in the support for rocking movement and having a portion disposed in the path of movement of said pins whereby to lock said member against rotation in one direction, the other portion of said element terminating to provide an arm normally disposed horizontally, said arm being arranged exteriorly of the sup-4 port and adapted to engage said projection thereon to limit the rocking movement of said element, said arm being adapted to be moved to a vertical position to render said element inoperative, and a leaf spring secured to the support in the path of movement of said arm to engage and retain the latter in vertical position for the purpose described.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

HENRY W. SCHMIDT. Witnesses:

WM. C. CROSBY, R. M. KIMBALL.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for ve cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. C." 

